Hingis accused of positive test for cocaine

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) _ Martina Hingis said Thursday she has been accused of testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon, and then announced her retirement from professional tennis.

Hingis, a five-time Grand Slam champion and former Wimbledon winner, denied using cocaine. The 27-year-old Swiss player lost in the third round at Wimbledon to Laura Granville, 6-4, 6-2.

Hingis returned to the sport two years ago after a four-year absence because of injuries. She won three straight Australian Open titles from 1997-99, and Wimbledon and the U.S. Open championships in 1997.
Hingis, who lost in the third round of the U.S. Open, hasn't played since her second-round loss to Peng Shuai of China, 7-5, 6-1, in Beijing on Sept. 19.

ZURICH, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Former world number one Martina Hingis said on Thursday she had tested positive for cocaine during Wimbledon this year and announced she was retiring from the professional tennis.

"I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs and I feel 100 percent innocent," the five-times grand slam champion from Switzerland told a news conference.

"The reason I have come out with this is because I do not want to have a fight with anti-doping authorities.

"Because of my age and my health problems I have also decided to retire from professional tennis."

In a statement later released by her management, the 27-year-old said she found the accusation of drug-taking "so horrendous, so monstrous, that I have decided to confront it head-on by talking to the press."

The statement added: "I would personally be terrified of taking drugs. When I was informed (about the test) I was shocked and appalled."

Hingis added that she had undergone a private test that came back negative and consulted an attorney.

"The attorney and his experts discovered various inconsistencies with the urine sample that was taken during Wimbledon.

"He is also convinced that the doping officials mishandled the process and would not be able to prove that the urine that was tested for cocaine actually came from me."

Hingis said she had also been advised that any fight to clear her name could drag on for years.

"And so, considering this situation, my age and the problems I have been having with my hip, I have decided to no longer play tennis on the Tour."